Page 58 of Knuckles

She chokes back a sob, and I swallow hard, her performance is really good.

Does she mean it?

Or is this a ploy to get back into a club I don’t even know I’m going to stay in?

“Is there any chance at all for forgiveness, for a relationship?” she asks, and I look away for a moment, my head fucking scrambled before I look at her again.

“I don’t know, Mom,” I admit with a rasp, not willing to lie.

A mother is supposed to love their child, to be there for them, and make their lives better, but she didn’t. She hurt me in the worst fucking way, neglected me, hated me, so how in the hell am I supposed to show her that we can have a relationship?

Mom sobs but nods in understanding before she chokes, “I won’t give up. No matter what, I’m going to be there, I’m going to be the mom you should have had,” just as the door to my gym bangs open and I sigh thinking maybe it’s my girl and she’s had another shitty interview. Instead, I tense as a dirty looking Masters, whose clothes are wrinkled and covered in god knows what, storms inside with a gun in hand and determination on his face.

Shit.

He looks around the room before his cold eyes come my way and he snarls as he lifts the gun, pointing it at my heart and states, “I said I’d be coming for Kodi and I fucking meant it, all I was doing was waiting in the shadows for her to wake up. Butfirst, even though I want you to watch as I fuck her, I need to kill you!”

Mom gasps and stands in front of me making me tense and honestly making me really fucking confused, and Masters chuckles, “Aww, your little whore is worried for you, does Kodi know about you two?”

“Mom, move!” I demand, but my mother, who has never been there for me, despite trembling, shakes her head and refuses as she stands straight, keeping her eyes on Masters.

Fuck’s sake.

I put my hand in my shorts pocket and feel my phone, and quickly I press and hold a side button, Trick somehow, and don’t ask me how, had installed and press down on it before I take a step to the side so Masters puts the gun on me, but my mom follows me, making my heart stutter and my fear kick up a notch.

What the fuck is she doing?

“Mom, huh?” Masters chuckles as he cocks his gun, and I take a step to the side again, ready to dive in front of my fucking mother, but my mom has other ideas.

She side-eyes me and instantly, the hair on the back of my neck stands and before I can grab her, to stop her from doing something fucking stupid all in the name of forgiveness, she takes off into a sprint towards Masters. I roar out as I try to grab hold of her arm, not willing for her to do this, but I just miss, and Masters shoots.

I watch in horror as my mom’s body jolts before she falls to the floor, and Masters laughs like a crazy person, and everything slows down.

Blood pours from beneath my mom’s body where she’s slumped on the floor, face first, and the door to my gym opens again, only this time, my whole fucking world enters with a slight smile on her face. It soon fades when she takes in the scene, and Masters turns and holds the gun at my girl.

Oh fuck no, no, no, not again!

I don’t think as I watch the smirk appearing on his face, I run towards him before he can shoot my girl, and Kodi’s eyes widen as Masters looks my way and lifts the gun, and déjà vu hits me as Kodi drops her bag and runs towards Masters.

Fuck, no, not again.

Chapter 25

Kodi

“I’m so sorry, but the spot has been filled. We didn’t think you had enough experience for the level of the role,” Mandy says before me, trying to look professional despite her right eye twitching and my jaw ticks.

She knows this conversation is anything but professional. She knows she’s screwing me over, and I know something isn’t right. I can feel it in my gut, just like I did with all the other interviews that ended this exact way.

I raise a brow at the woman as the school bell rings in the background of our video chat. She clears her throat as she looks behind her for a moment, then looks my way again, guilt lacing her eyes.

Mandy Harris is the principal of Middle East High in Mexico and wanted nothing more than to speak to me, emailing meevery day for the past five days since I inquired about the job. Now that I’ve finally answered her email, now that I’m settled with Liam until he decides whether or not he will be staying within the MC, a choice I will not and refuse to help him make, video calling her five minutes after her fifth email about the job today alone, she’s telling me the spot for the assistant art teacher has suddenly been filled.

I mean, how stupid does she think I am?

I want to scream and call bull, I want to call her a liar but instead, I act like the professional that I am after years in the force and I ask, “Then why did you take my call?” as I sit back in my seat trying not to snap at her because honestly, I’m pissed, no, screw that, I’m completely livid.

This is the ninth interview I’ve had since being discharged from the hospital after Trick messed up my job offer with the school in Boston. Every single interviewer has declined me, and I’m beginning to get suspicious. No, actually, I’m more than suspicious because this has Trick all over it.